MediaReleases

Media Releases

HAN Culture and Education Group sets up advisory committee and launches cultural courses for adults

Singapore, 13 February 2018 --- HAN Culture and Education Group, which was acquired by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), has set up an advisory committee consisting of experts and professionals from various fields such as technology, education and entrepreneurship to strengthen the quality of its courses and standards of teaching.

The advisory committee members include Dr Foo Suan Fong, Executive Director, Singapore Centre for Chinese Language Limited; Mr Eugene Wong, Chairman, CrimsonLogic and Sirius Venture Capital and Vice Chairman of Japan Foods Holdings Limited and North Asia Business Group - Singapore Business Federation; Dr Cheow-Thia Chan, Lecturer, National University of Singapore and Ms Anita Chen, Director of Technology, International School of Helsinki.

Ms Ooi Ching Ya, CEO of HAN Culture and Education Group, said: “With the support of this advisory committee, I believe HAN Culture and Education Group will be able to better integrate our strengths and expertise to offer more high-quality programmes to our learners.”

The HAN Culture and Education Group was established after the successful acquisition of HAN Language Centre by SPH on 1 November 2017. The group now operates Han Language Centre which has 25 years of history in Singapore. It combines the rich news content and resources of SPH Chinese Media Group’s multiple media platforms to develop quality Chinese language education and cultural courses, as well as activities for students and adults.

HAN Culture and Education Group’s courses for adults include Chinese Language for Beginners and Intermediate Chinese Language for learners with a basic foundation of the language. The group will launch a Chinese Business and Cultural Course for working professionals in end February.

The Chinese Business and Cultural Course combines the use of current affairs and practical knowledge to help working professionals to better understand the business culture, politics and economy of modern China. The course will be conducted in a more vibrant way by using news reports and case analyses through news events.

Ms Ooi added: "Our unique cultural content highlighting the developments of modern China and Singapore-China relations is what differentiates HAN's adult courses from other language schools. In addition, we are integrating valuable resources from Lianhe Zaobao, such as newsroom content, connections and perspectives, with our curriculum to benefit our learners. We hope to support our adult learners in mastering the Chinese language in a creative and vibrant way, and help more students to continuously use their mother tongue. We see this not just as a vision, but as our mission as well."

HAN Culture and Education Group will also be organising forums, workshops and courses on education and culture, with the objective of helping students to understand the Chinese culture through Chinese traditional art forms while raising their Chinese language standard and cultural interest.

Mr Ann Jong Juan, Principal of HAN Culture and Education Group, said: "As a recipient of the Cultural Medallion (Drama) and the inaugural Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCCA) award, it is both my responsibility and passion to pass on the heritage of Chinese language and culture. Our team at HAN bears a deep love and respect for our mother tongue language and culture. Together, we are devoted to furthering the learning of the Chinese language and the promotion of Chinese culture. I will continue to oversee both Chinese teaching and learning and Chinese artistic creation, and will continue to explore new ways of developing meaningful programmes.”

HAN Culture and Education Group currently operates 16 Han Language Centres in Singapore, providing courses for primary school and secondary school students, as well as adults. The education materials are developed based on the latest MOE syllabus while injecting fun and creativity into learning the Chinese language.

SPH's core business is publishing of newspapers, magazines and books in both print and digital editions. It also owns other digital products, online classifieds, radio stations and outdoor media.

On the property front, SPH owns 70% in a real estate investment trust called SPH REIT which comprises Paragon, a premier upscale retail mall and medical suite/office property in Orchard Road and The Clementi Mall, a mid-market suburban mall.

SPH also owns and operates The Seletar Mall. It built an upmarket residential condominium, Sky@eleven, at Thomson Road, and is developing a new commercial cum residential site at Woodleigh Road. It also has a stake in Chinatown Point.

It is in the aged care sector and owns Orange Valley, Singapore’s largest private nursing home operator.

SPH runs a regional events arm and a chain of Buzz retail outlets. It also invested in the education business.